U.S. patent number 5,455,895 [Application Number 08/063,323] was granted by the patent office on 1995-10-03 for printing apparatus with automatic operation mode changing function.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Hiroshi Hattori.
United States Patent |
5,455,895 |
Hattori |
October 3, 1995 |
Printing apparatus with automatic operation mode changing
function
Abstract
In a printing apparatus, after the initial process program,
printing data input from a host computer is stored in the receiving
buffer of the control system of the printing apparatus. Then, a
determination process program detects control codes from the
printing data stored in the receiving buffer. One operation mode
for printing is determined based on the detected control code. As a
result of the determination process program, if a plurality of
operation modes are determined or if no operation mode is
determined, the determination process program uses operation mode
historical information stored in an operation mode historical
information buffer to determine one operation mode candidate.
Therefore, the degree of certainty is high in automatically
determining an operation mode which best corresponds to the
printing data, and the chance of a misjudgment of an operation mode
is extremely decreased.
Inventors: |
Hattori; Hiroshi (Inazawa,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
(Nagoya, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
16733247 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/063,323 |
Filed: |
May 19, 1993 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 18, 1992 [JP] |
|
|
4-219294 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.13;
358/1.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K
15/00 (20130101); G06K 2215/0011 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06K
15/00 (20060101); G06K 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;395/112,114,115,116,164,165,166,113,400,425 ;400/76,61,62,70,71,77
;358/404,444 ;346/154 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Powell; Mark R.
Assistant Examiner: Popovici; Dov
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oliff & Berridge
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A control device for determining a printing operation mode for a
printing apparatus comprising:
memory means for storing data including operation modes, comprising
a printing data memory means for storing printing data including
control codes corresponding to operation modes for printing, an
operation mode candidate memory means for storing operation mode
candidates, and an historical operation mode memory means for
storing previously selected operation modes;
candidate selecting means for selecting an operation mode candidate
from the operation modes stored in said operation mode candidate
memory means;
detecting means for detecting a control code in the printing data
stored in said printing data memory means;
initial operation mode determining means for determining an
operation mode based on the control code detected in the printing
data by determining whether the detected control code corresponds
to the selected operation mode candidate, withdrawing the operation
mode candidate from said operation mode candidate memory means when
the detected control code does not correspond to the selected
operation mode candidate, and directing said candidate selecting
means to reselect another operation mode candidate from said
operation mode candidate memory means until all of the operation
modes have been selected as candidates, wherein when the detected
control code corresponds to the selected operation mode candidate,
that operation mode is left in the operation mode candidate memory
means and when only one operation mode remains in said operation
mode candidate memory means, the one remaining operation mode is
stored in said historical operation mode memory means and is set as
the printing operation mode; and
historical operation mode determining means for determining the
printing operation mode when said initial operation mode
determining means determines a number of operation modes other than
one, including a plurality of operation modes and no operation mode
remaining in said operation mode candidate memory means, wherein
said historical operation mode determining means includes automatic
selecting means for automatically selecting one operation mode from
the operation modes stored in said historical operation mode memory
means and said operation mode candidate memory means, wherein the
automatically selected operation mode is stored in said historical
operation mode memory means and is set as the printing operation
mode.
2. The control device of claim 1, wherein said automatic selecting
means includes searching means for searching said historical
operation mode memory means for operation modes and, when said
historical operation mode memory means includes no operation modes,
said automatic selecting means automatically selects one of the
operation modes from said operation mode candidate memory means and
when no operation mode has been determined by the initial operation
mode determining means said automatic selecting means automatically
selects the operation mode from the memory means.
3. The control device of claim 1, wherein said automatic selecting
means includes searching means for searching said historical
operation mode memory means for operation modes and wherein said
automatic selecting means automatically selects a most recently
stored operation mode as the printing operation mode when no
operation mode has been determined by said initial operation mode
determining means.
4. The control device of claim 3, wherein said automatic selecting
means further includes correspondence means for comparing the
operation mode candidates determined by said initial operation mode
determining means to operation modes stored in said historical
operation mode memory means and selecting a most recently stored
operation mode that corresponds to an operation mode candidate
determined by said initial operation mode as the printing operation
mode and wherein when no operation mode candidate determined by the
initial operation mode determining means corresponds to an
operation mode from said historical operation mode memory means,
said automatic selecting means arbitrarily selects one of the
operation modes determined by said initial operation mode
determining means.
5. The control device of claim 1, further comprising initialization
means for initializing said memory means.
6. The control device of claim 1, further comprising printing data
comparing means for determining whether all the printing data has
been received in said printing data memory means from a host
computer.
7. The control device of claim 1, further comprising operation mode
comparing means for determining whether all operation modes stored
in said historical operation mode memory means have been read by
said historical operation mode determining means.
8. The control device of claim 1, further comprising automatic
deleting means for automatically deleting an oldest operation mode
stored in said historical operation mode memory means when said
historical operation mode memory means is full.
9. A control device of a printing apparatus comprising:
a memory storing data including operation modes, comprising a
printing data memory storing printing data including control codes
corresponding to operation modes for printing, an operation mode
candidate memory storing operation mode candidates, and an
historical operation mode memory storing previously selected
operation modes;
a candidate operation mode selector selecting an operation mode
candidate from the operation modes stored in said operation mode
candidate memory;
a detector detecting a control code in the printing data stored in
said printing data memory;
initial operation mode determiner determining means an operation
mode for printing based on the control code detected in the
printing data by determining whether the detected control code
corresponds to the selected operation mode candidate, withdrawing
the operation mode candidate when the detected control code does
not correspond to the selected operation mode candidate, and
directing said candidate operation mode selector to reselect
another operation mode candidate from said operation mode candidate
memory until all of the operation modes have been selected as
candidates, wherein when the detected control code corresponds to
the selected operation mode candidate, that operation mode is left
in the operation mode candidate memory and when only one operation
mode remains in said operation mode candidate memory, the one
remaining operation mode is stored in said historical operation
mode memory means and is set as the printing operation mode;
and
an historical operation mode determiner determining an operation
mode for printing when said initial operation mode determiner
determines a number of operation modes other than one remaining in
said operation mode candidate memory, wherein said historical
operation mode determiner includes an automatic selector that
automatically selects the final operation mode from one of said
historical operation mode memory and said operation mode candidate
memory, wherein the automatically selected operation mode is stored
in said historical operation mode memory and is set as the printing
operation mode.
10. The control device of claim 9, wherein said automatic selector
includes a searcher searching said historical operation mode memory
for operation modes and, when said historical operation mode memory
includes no operation modes, said automatic selector automatically
selects one of the operation modes from said operation mode
candidate memory and when no operation mode has been determined by
said initial operation mode determiner, said automatic selector
automatically selects one of the operation modes from the
memory.
11. The control device of claim 9, wherein said automatic selector
includes a searcher searching said historical operation mode memory
for operation modes and, wherein said automatic selector
automatically selects a most recently stored operation mode as the
printing operation mode when no operation mode has been determined
by said initial operation mode determiner.
12. The control device of claim 11, wherein said automatic selector
further includes a correspondence device comparing the operation
modes determined by said initial operation mode determiner to
operation modes stored in said historical operation mode memory and
selecting a most recently stored operation mode that corresponds to
an operation mode determined by said initial operation mode
determiner as the printing operation mode and wherein when no
operation mode candidate determined by the initial operation mode
determiner corresponds to an operation mode from said historical
operation mode from said historical operation mode memory, said
automatic selector arbitrarily selects one of the operation modes
determined by said initial operation mode determiner.
13. The control device of claim 9, further comprising an
initializer initializing said memory.
14. The control device of claim 9, further comprising a printing
data comparer determining whether all the printing data has been
received in said printing data memory from a host computer.
15. The control device of claim 9, further comprising an operation
mode comparer determining whether all operation modes stored in
said historical operation mode memory have been read by said
historical operation mode determiner.
16. The control device of claim 9, further comprising an automatic
deleter that automatically deletes an oldest operation mode stored
in said historical operation mode memory when said historical
operation mode memory is full.
17. A method of controlling printing comprising the steps of:
storing data, including printing data having control codes
corresponding to operation modes for printing, operation mode
candidates, and previously selected operation modes;
selecting an operation mode candidate from the stored operation
mode candidates;
detecting a control code in the stored printing data;
determining an operation mode from the control code detected in the
printing data by determining whether the detected control code
corresponds to the selected operation mode candidate, withdrawing
the operation mode candidate when the detected control code does
not correspond to the selected operation mode candidate, and
reselecting another operation mode candidate, wherein when all the
operation mode candidates have been selected and only one operation
mode candidate remains, further including the step of storing that
operation mode candidate and setting that stored operation mode for
printing; and
determining a printing operation mode when a number of operation
modes are determined other than one, including automatically
selecting the printing operation mode from one of the previously
selected operation modes and the operation mode candidates, storing
the automatically selected operation mode and setting the
determined operation mode for printing.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of automatically
selecting includes searching previously selected operation modes
and, when no previously selected operation modes are found,
selecting one of the determined operation mode candidates.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of automatically
selecting further includes matching one of the determined operation
mode candidates to previously selected operation modes and
selecting a most recently previously selected matching operation
mode as the printing operation mode.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of automatically
selecting includes searching previously selected operation modes
and, when no operation mode candidate has been determined and when
previously selected operation modes are located, selecting a most
recently previously selected operation mode as the printing
operation mode.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control device of a printing
apparatus which can automatically change between a plurality of
operation modes having their respective control code systems
different from each other.
2. Description of Related Art
Various kinds of printing apparatuses are in use in which, letters,
figures and the like based on printing data input from an external
device are printed in accordance with control codes, such as bold
face, subscript, line feed, form feed and the like, contained in
the printing data.
In addition, in order to enable more varied printing, known
printing apparatuses often have their own particular operation
modes such as a high-speed mode for carrying out printing at high
speed, a switching mode for switching between lateral writing and
vertical writing, a mode for designation of dot space and bit image
and the like. These modes are also designated by the control codes,
in particular, escape control codes (ESC sequence code) in the
printing data. A sequence of printing data input from the host
computer has control codes in accordance with an operation
mode.
A printing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes and
capable of changing the operation modes in accordance with the
printing data input from the host computer carries out the
following printing operation. First, the input printing data is
stored temporarily, and control codes which are particular to each
operation mode are detected from the printing data. Then, an
operation mode which corresponds to the printing data to carry out
a printing operation is determined based on the detected control
codes. The determined operation mode is set automatically to carry
out the desired printing operation.
However, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus, if no control
code exists in the input printing data, an operation mode which
corresponds to the printing data to carry out a printing operation
cannot be determined at all. Moreover, if each of the detected
control codes corresponds to a plurality of operation modes, the
degree of certainty to determine one operation mode which best
corresponds to the printing data to carry out the printing
operation becomes extremely low.
In the above-mentioned cases, there is a high possibility to
misjudge an operation mode to carry out a printing operation. As a
result, a precise printing result cannot be obtained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a control device
of a printing apparatus with an automatic operation mode changing
function capable of automatically determining one operation mode
with a high degree of certainty and decreasing the chances of a
misjudgment of an operation mode.
To achieve the above and other objects, the control device of a
printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
operation mode storing means for storing a plurality of operation
modes; printing data storing means for storing printing data input
from a host computer; operation mode determining means for
determining in which one of the plurality of operation modes stored
in said operation mode storing means the printing data is to be
printed; and operation mode history storing means for storing
historical information which is related to the operation mode
determined by said operation mode determining means, wherein said
operation determining means determines in which one of the
plurality of operation modes the printing data is to be printed
data based on the historical information stored in said operation
mode history storing means.
In operation, the control device of a printing apparatus of the
present invention prints printing data input from a host computer.
The printing data is stored in the printing data storing means, and
the operation mode determining means determines in which one of the
plurality of operation modes stored in the operation mode storing
means the printing data is to be printed. The operation mode
history storing means stores historical information which is
related to the operation mode determined by the operation mode
determining means, and the operation mode determining means
determines in which one of the plurality of operation modes the
printing data is to be printed based on the historical information
stored in the operation mode history storing means.
As is clear from the above explanation, in the printing apparatus
of the present invention, when the degree of certainty for the
determination of the operation mode is extremely low or no
operation mode can be determined based on the control codes which
exist in the printing data to be printed, the printing data is
printed based on the operation mode determination results including
historical information of the operation modes which have been
selected before. Therefore, the certainty becomes higher in
determining an operation mode which best corresponds to the
printing data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described
in detail with reference to the following figures wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic outline structure of the printing apparatus
of the preferred embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the printing process program of the
printing apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the operation mode determination program
with control codes of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation mode determination program
with historical information of the printing apparatus of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A preferred embodiment which illustrates the present invention is
explained by referring to the accompanying drawings.
First, the structure of a printing apparatus is explained by
referring to FIG. 1. A control device 110 of the printing apparatus
is connected to a host computer 100 and a printing unit 140. The
control device 110 comprises CPU 112 for controlling the printing
apparatus, program ROM 114 for storing various programs and
operation modes, font memory ROM 124 for storing various fonts and
RAM 111.
RAM 111 comprises a receiving buffer 116 for temporarily storing
printing data input from the host computer 100, an operation mode
historical information buffer 118 for storing information of
operation modes determined to print printing data input from the
host computer 100, a text memory 120, an image memory 122, and an
operation mode candidate memory 126 for storing operation mode
candidates during the operation mode determination process
program.
Printing data input from the host computer 100 is stored
temporarily in the receiving buffer 116 based on the program ROM
114. Printing information is developed in the text memory 120 based
on the printing data, and the printing unit 140 is controlled with
reference to the image memory 122 and the font memory 124 to print
the printing information. Information of an operation mode which is
finally determined to carry out the printing operation is stored in
the operation mode historical information buffer 118. If the amount
of information of operation modes exceeds the maximum amount of the
operation mode historical information buffer 118, the oldest
information of operation modes is deleted.
The printing process program with control codes stored in the
program ROM 114 is explained by referring to FIG. 2.
The printing process program is initiated by CPU 112 at the
start-up when a power source of the printing apparatus is turned
on. When the program is started, a SELF-TEST is performed and each
memory is initialized for the initialization of the printing
apparatus. During initialization, an operation mode No. 0 is
provisionally selected from among three operation modes No. 0, No.
1 and No. 2 (S1).
Then, printing data input from the host computer 100 is received,
for example for one page, and the received printing data is stored
in a printing data buffer which is assigned at a predetermined
address of the receiving buffer 116 (S3). Next, the CPU 112
determines if all of a sequence of printing data, that is, printing
data of one page is already received or not (S5). If the printing
data is completely received (S5:YES), the program proceeds to the
operation mode determination process program with control codes
(S7).
The operation mode determination process program executed by the
CPU 112 is explained by referring to FIG. 3. When the program
starts, all of the operation modes, No. 0, No. 1 and No. 2, become
candidates for the operation mode. All of the operation modes are
stored in the operation mode candidate memory 126 (S21). Next, the
printing data is read from the receiving buffer 116 (S23), and a
determination is made whether the read printing data is a control
code or not (S25).
If the read printing data is determined to be a control code
(S25:YES), the program proceeds to the following determining
process (S27-S37). On the other hand, the determination is that the
printing data is not a control code (S25:NO), the program proceeds
to S39.
If the determination at S25 is that the read printing data is a
control code, a determination is made whether the detected control
code exists in a control code system of the operation mode No. 0 or
not (S27). If the determination at S27 is that the detected control
code does not exist in the control code system of the operation
mode No. 0 (S27:NO), the operation mode No. 0 is withdrawn from the
stored candidates. The information of the operation mode No. 0 is
deleted from the operation mode candidate memory 126 (S29). On the
other hand, if the determination at S27 is that the control code
exists in the control code system of the operation mode No. 0
(S27:YES), the program proceeds to S31.
Next, the CPU 112 determines whether the control code detected at
S25 exists in a control code system of the operation mode No. 1 or
not (S31). If the control code does not exist in the control code
system of the operation mode No. 1, the operation mode No. 1 is
withdrawn from the candidates of the operation mode (S31:NO). The
information of the operation mode No. 1 is deleted from the
operation mode candidate memory 126 (S33). On the other hand, if it
is determined that the control code exists in the control code
system of the operation mode No. 1 (S31:YES), the program proceeds
to S35.
In the same way, the CPU 112 determines whether the control code
detected at S25 exists in a control code system of the operation
mode No. 2 or not. If it is determined that the control code does
not exist in the control code system of the operation mode No. 2
(S35:NO), the operation mode No. 2 is withdrawn from the candidates
of operation modes. The information of the operation mode No. 2 is
deleted from the operation mode candidate memory 126 (S37). On the
other hand, if it is determined that the control code exists in the
control code system of the operation mode No. 2 (S37:YES), the
program proceeds to S39.
Next, at S39, the CPU 112 determines whether all the printing data
stored in the receiving buffer 116 has been read or not. If all the
printing data stored in the receiving buffer 116 has not been read
(S39:NO), the program returns to S23, and the operation mode
determining process is executed in the same way based on the next
printing data. On the other hand, if all the printing data stored
in the receiving buffer 116 is already read (S39:YES), the
operation mode determining process with control codes is finished,
and the program returns to the program shown in FIG. 2.
After the operation mode determination process program shown in
FIG. 3, if one operation mode is determined (S9:YES), the program
proceeds to S13. However, if more than one operation mode is
determined or if no operation mode is determined (S9:NO), the
operation mode determination process program with operation mode
historical information (S11) is executed to determine one candidate
for the operation mode.
The determination process program of S11 is explained by referring
to FIG. 4. If the determination process program with operation mode
historical information is started, the CPU 112 determines if there
is any operation mode candidate determined at S11 or not (S41).
If it is determined that there is no operation candidate (S41:NO),
it is determined if there is any information of operation modes in
the operation mode historical information buffer 118 or not (S52).
When it is determined that there is no information of an operation
mode in the operation mode historical information buffer 118
(S52:NO), the operation mode No. 0 is determined as a final
candidate (S54). Then, the program returns to the program shown in
FIG. 2. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is
information of an operation mode in the operation mode historical
information buffer 118 (S52:YES), the latest historical information
of an operation mode stored in the operation mode information
buffer 118 is read (S53). Then, the operation mode corresponding to
the latest historical information is determined as a final
candidate and the program returns to the program shown in FIG.
2.
On the other hand, if it is determined that there is at least one
operation mode candidate (S41:YES), the latest historical
information is read from the operation mode historical information
buffer 118 (S43). Then, it is determined whether the operation mode
candidate or candidates include(s) the operation mode corresponding
to the read latest historical information or not (S45).
If the operation mode candidate(s) include(s) the operation mode
corresponding to the latest historical information (S45:YES), the
operation mode of the latest historical information is determined
as a final candidate (S51), and the program returns to the program
shown in FIG. 2.
If the operation mode candidate(s) do(es) not include the operation
mode of the latest historical information (S45:NO), it is
determined if all the historical information in the operation mode
past information buffer 118 is read or not (S47). If all the
historical information is not read from the operation mode
historical information buffer 118 (S47:NO), the program returns to
S43. Then, the next historical information is read, and it is
determined if the operation mode candidate(s) include(s) the
operation mode of the next historical past information (S45).
If any historical information read from the operation mode
historical information buffer 118 at S43 is not included in the
operation mode candidate(s) (S47:YES), any one of the candidates is
determined as a final candidate (S49), and the program returns to
the program shown in FIG. 2.
The information of the operation mode of the final candidate is
stored in the operation mode historical information buffer 118
(S13), and the operation mode which is finally determined is set
(S15). Then, the printing data stored in the receiving buffer 116
is printed according to the control code system of the set
operation mode (S17). If the printing operation of the printing
data stored in the receiving buffer 116 is finished, the program
returns to S3 to receive the next printing data.
In the printing apparatus which can change an operation mode
between three operation modes No. 0, No. 1 and No. 2, an operation
mode is rarely changed between pages. In many cases, a printing
operation is carried out in the same operation mode as used before.
That is, a plurality of pages of printing data input to the
printing apparatus is generally supposed to be printed in the same
operation mode. In the above-mentioned printing apparatus which
carries out a printing operation for each page, even if an
operation mode cannot be determined in the middle of the plurality
of pages, an operation mode which best corresponds to the printing
data can be determined based on the operation modes which have been
set before.
Therefore, even if an operation mode which best corresponds to the
printing data cannot be determined, a misjudgment of the operation
mode to carry out printing data can be prevented. The degree of
certainty to determine an operation mode which best corresponds to
the printing data becomes quite high by determining a final
operation mode candidate based on the operation modes which have
been determined before.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted
to the particular forms shown in the foregoing embodiment. Various
modifications and alternatives can be made thereto without
departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the
appended claims.
* * * * *